Mitt Romney says he’s “almost there” in his six-year pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination, having defeated Rick Santorum in the Illinois GOP primary.

Romney holds Illinois Primary Night party in Schaumburg, Chicago
loading...

The GOP front-runner is urging Republicans in a campaign email sent after Tuesday’s victory to fall in line behind his bid.

Romney and his allies spent hundreds of thousands of dollars more than Santorum and his backers in Illinois, and it showed in the results: Romney was beating Santorum by 47 percent to 35 percent.

Romney was the clear favorite among Illinois Republicans who were most concerned about picking someone who is capable of taking on President Barack Obama.

In an appeal to the centrist independents who will decide the general election, Romney pledged to work with Democrats or, in his words, “die trying.”

Santorum renews focus on freedom

Rick Santorum gets a kiss from a supporter
loading...

Rick Santorum says freedom and curbing big government’s reach are the overriding issues in the presidential race.

Despite his loss to GOP front-runner Mitt Romney in the Illinois primary, Santorum is pressing ahead with his campaign. The former Pennsylvania senator spoke to supporters Tuesday night at a campaign event in Gettysburg, Pa., the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s famous Civil War address.

Santorum is bracing for a long contest with Romney, who has more money, delegates and organization. Santorum, however, has enough cash to continue trying to deny Romney the nomination.

Next up is a primary in Louisiana on Saturday. Santorum is hopeful following twin triumphs a week ago in Alabama and Mississippi.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

More From Beach Radio